If you don’t have dental insurance, you’re probably aware that the cost of dental work can quickly add up. Even teeth cleanings can put a dent in your wallet every six to twelve months. If you need more extensive work done, you can end up paying a lot. We’re here to help you find the best dentist for your financial needs.

What options are available for people without dental insurance in BC?

For those without insurance, it’s often simply not feasible to pay so much money, especially for maintenance and touch-up work that doesn’t seem like it’s really fixing a painful problem. Whether you’re looking for a basic checkup or an emergency root canal, low-cost and free dental work are available if you know where to look.

Check with your local food bank and outreach clinic

Many BC communities have a dental service for low-income citizens and those without health insurance. Try contacting local organizations such as your food bank, outreach clinic, or community health centre to find out whether there is such a service in your area. For example, in Abbotsford, the Abbotsford Food Bank Dental Clinic provides free basic dental care, and in Kelowna, the Kelowna Gospel Mission Dental Clinic can schedule appointments for teeth cleanings and even some root canals.

Search for discounted clinics in your area

If free dental work is not accessible in your area, try discounted clinics. Many clinics are available in the Vancouver area and other areas of BC for those who need discounted dental work. For example, UBC runs an emergency clinic, general dentistry clinic, and orthodontics clinic, each of which offers greatly reduced fees (20 to 30 percent off general procedures). Similarly, other clinics offer discounts to those without health insurance.

This list is one of the best dentist resource for reduced cost dental clinics (list maintained by the BC Dental Association):

Talk to your local 123Dentist Member Clinic

Sometimes, the best dentist resource for low-cost dental work is to talk to your own dentist. They may even be willing to set up a payment plan, offer discounts for those without health insurance, or even point you to a clinic that offers discounts on more extensive treatments.

Ultimately, it is crucial to keep up with your teeth cleanings and maintenance dental work if you don’t have insurance. Seeking out low-cost clinics if necessary is a worthwhile endeavour because these procedures can help avoid the expensive, painful procedures that will cost a lot more later.